Long-term trends of inequalities in mortality in 6 European countries

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess whether trends in inequalities in mortality during the period 1970–2010 differed between Finland, Norway, England and Wales, France, Italy (Turin) and Hungary. METHODS: Total and cause-specific mortality data by educational level and, if available, occupational class were collected and harmonized. Both relative and absolute measures of inequality in mortality were calculated. RESULTS: In all countries except Hungary, all-cause mortality declined strongly over time in all socioeconomic groups. Relative inequalities in all-cause mortality generally increased, but more so in Hungary and Norway than elsewhere. Absolute inequalities often narrowed, but went up in Hungary and Norway. As a result of these trends, Hungary (where inequalities in mortality where almost absent in the 1970s) and Norway (where inequalities in the 1970s were among the smallest of the six countries in this study) now have larger inequalities in mortality than the other four countries. CONCLUSIONS: While some countries have experienced dramatic setbacks, others have made substantial progress in reducing inequalities in mortality. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00038-016-0922-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.